Hundreds of thousands of Moldovans in Russia couldn’t vote
Moscow accused the management in Moldova of having prevented hundreds of thousands of citizens of the country living in Russia from voting on Sunday in the parliamentary elections.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov complained on Monday that Moldova had only opened two polling stations in Russian territory. He said that because the capacity was insufficient, hundreds of thousands could not vote.
The Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on election day that only 5,000 ballots were available in each of the two polling stations. The ministry cited security reasons for this but did not specify what they were. Hundreds of thousands of Moldovans live in Russia.
Russia has criticized the absence of such restrictions in the EU countries.
According to Moldavian information, more than 276,000 citizens voted in the EU and other Western countries, traditionally in favor of the pro-European forces.
According to the Electoral Commission, the Party of Pro-European President Maia Sandu again obtained a majority in Parliament.
Sandu had previously accused Russia of massive interference, in particular the purchase of votes, disinformation and cyber attacks.
Small protest against the results of the Moldova elections
Kremlin spokesperson Peskov said Russia refrain from assessing the elections otherwise and would leave this to the political parties and the Moldova blocks.
The pro-Russian patriotic electoral block, supported by Moscow and led by former president Igor Dodon, finished distant.
Dodon could only bring together a few unhappy people in the street during a demonstration on Monday in the capital, Chișinău.
He complained that many people, especially in the Transnetria escape region, where Russian soldiers are stationed, had been prevented from voting.
In total, five parts and blocks managed to enter Parliament.
Traditionally, Moldova is torn between rapprochement with the EU and alignment with Russia.
International electoral observers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) also intend to comment Monday on Monday on the conduct of parliamentary elections.
